Jesse Ventura Wrestles With His Future

After being so successful in professional wrestling and knowing how staged it is, it must have seemed a natural step to Jesse Ventura to enter politics ("Ventura Will Leave the Ring," June 19). It probably never occurred to him that politicians and journalists play rougher than wrestlers. He learned that lesson the hard way. He may have a few more lessons to learn.

Just because he's not seeking a second term doesn't mean he is leaving his stage career behind. There are a lot of other people out there who are acting and playing rough games. He might consider going back into wrestling, where it's a little safer and where you expect to be booed by the audience. Shakespeare could have been speaking directly to the governor when he said, "All the world's a stage. And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts."

What's next, Jesse?

Robert H. Williams

Monterey Park

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So Gov. Ventura has had it with politics and wants to retire to a quieter lifestyle. Democrats and Republicans survive because millions of people believe in what their parties stand for, regardless of some of the miserable candidates each nominates. Third parties live and die based on the popularity of the individuals elected. Goodbye, Jesse. Say hello to Ross, Pat and Ralph on your way out.